started todrag her across the parking lot toward the woods.
âHeyâlet go!â Destiny screamed, unable to hide her panic. âWhat are you doing?â
âWeâll be together,â Livvy growled, saliva running down her fangs. âYou and me. Together.â
Destiny grabbed Livvyâs arms and tried to pull them off her. But Livvy held onto her tightly and dragged her over the gravel toward the tall trees.
âYou and me,â Livvy rasped. âJust the way you want it, Dee.â
âLet go! Let go!â Destiny pleaded.
Livvy pressed her mouth against the back of Destinyâs neck. âYou and meâforever,â she whispered.
chapter fourteen
THE TASTE OF NIGHT
LIVVY HELD ON TIGHT AS DESTINY SQUIRMED AND struggled to free herself. Finally, she gave Deeâs hair a hard tugâand let her go.
Destiny staggered forward several steps. Then she spun around to face her sister. âWere youâ¦were youâ¦â She struggled to catch her breath. âWhat were you doing? Were you just trying to scare me?â
Livvy grinned at her. She made loud sucking noises with her fangs. âWant to stay and find out?â
Trembling, Destiny studied her for a long moment. Then she turned and ran across the parking lot.
Livvy watched her sister run away. Her heart was pounding in her chest. She suddenly felt dizzy.
Iâm so confused. My feelings are all mixed up.
I always loved Destiny. Do I really hate her now?
Is it because sheâs trying to ruin my new life?
I made my choice. Why canât she leave me alone?
Livvy turned and saw Patrick watching her from the club exit. She slid her fangs back into her gums. Then she straightened her hair and forced a sexy smile to her face.
âThere you are,â he called, taking those long strides toward her. âI thought maybe you split or something.â
âNo way.â She took his arm. âItâs nice out, huh?â
He nodded. She liked his serious, dark eyes, the way they seemed to lock on her as if holding her captive.
The clouds floated away from the moon, and pale light washed over them. âI like the moonlight,â he said, glancing up at the sky.
âHow old are you?â she asked, leaning against him, guiding him to the trees.
âOld enough,â he said. âHow old did you think I was?â
âI donât know. Inside the club, you looked sixteen. But now you look older.â She let her hand slide down his arm and gripped his hand. âIâm going to be eighteen soon.â
âAre you in college?â he asked. Their shoes crunched over the gravel. He didnât wait for her to answer. He turned and kissed her. He held her chin in his hand and kissed her long and deep.
Yes, she thought. And as she kissed him, a strange phrase played through her mindâ¦
The taste of night.
The taste of night .
Where did it come from? She didnât know. But she knew she was enjoying it tonightâthe taste of night. The taste of the cool, fresh air and the moonlight, the taste of his lips, the taste of an exciting, new adventure. And in a few momentsâ¦the taste of blood.
It was all part of the taste of night.
Iâm totally into him, she thought. I mean Iâm really attracted to him. Heâs so good looking and mysterious and sexy.
We just met, but I already have strong feelings for him, she realized.
Almost as strong as my thirstâ¦
He pulled his face away. They were both breathing hard. He still had his hand on her chin. âWhere are you leading me?â he asked.
She grinned. âAstray?â
He laughed. A big laugh that seemed to come from deep inside him.
âI thought weâd take a walk in the woods,â Livvy said. âSuch a nice night. We can talk. Itâs so peaceful out here.â
âYouâre an outdoors-type person? You like to camp?â
âNot really,â she replied. âBut I like to do
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